Jersey Devil
27th May 2005, 19:30
There's been a lot of talk about this bill for some time now. It was expected to pass the House which it did and it will probably also pass the Senate, however Bush has said before that he would veto this bill and since it did not pass the House with 2/3's the vote Bush will have the ability to use his veto power (should it pass the Senate as well of course). If it does pass the Senate and Bush vetos it, it will be the first time in 5 years in office that he will have used his veto power. What's interesting is that just a few days ago before this was debated in the House, they had a medical breakthrough in South Korea with embryonic stem cell reasearch.
Another bill passed on the same day with overwhelming bi-partisan support as well as support from Bush, it will create a national registry for umbilical cord blood which will be used for research.
Please no spam, only serious posts. That means no children.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4576407.stm
US House backs stem cell funding
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41180000/jpg/_41180979_bushkids-getty203.jpg
Mr Bush met who were children adopted as frozen embryos
The US House of Representatives has voted to increase government funding for embryonic stem cell research.
The vote sets up a confrontation with President Bush, who has vowed to veto the bill if it passes the Senate.
The bill was passed by 238-194 votes - short of the two-thirds majority required to override Mr Bush's veto.
The vote followed an emotional debate between those who say the research is vital for medical progress, and those who say it destroys human life.
The bill would allow scientists to use stem cells from embryos created during in-vitro fertilisation programmes but never implanted in a womb.
Researchers believe stem cells - which can transform themselves into many other tissue types - hold the key to finding cures for many diseases, including Parkinson's and diabetes.
In 2001, Mr Bush declared that federal funding would be available only for research using existing stem cells - meaning that none have been harvested since.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Congressman Mike Castle and Democrat Diane De Gette, aims to overturn that ban.
During the debate, Republican Representative Charlie Bas spoke for the bill's supporters, urging Congress to consider the medical cures that might be discovered and the people that would benefit.
"For America to stand back because of a moral principle and not allow sound scientific research to proceed under the umbrella of the National Institute of Health, I think, is unconscionable," he said.
Broken ranks
Many Catholics and social conservatives in the US oppose the destruction of embryos.
Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay said the bill would mean taxpayers funding "the dismemberment of living, distinct human beings".
But a number of conservative Republicans, who usually back the pro-life lobby, broke with the party mainstream to support the bill.
Correspondents say that by threatening to use the veto for the first time in his presidency, Mr Bush has made it clear he will make a stand.
Before the debate, Mr Bush appeared alongside a group of children who were at one time embryos frozen in fertility clinics, before being adopted and implanted into a womb.
"This bill would take us across a critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the ongoing destruction of emerging human life," the president said.
"Crossing this line would be a great mistake."
A second bill which calls for extra funding for stem cell research using umbilical cord blood, and which has presidential backing, was passed by 431 votes to 1.
Scientists say these cells could provide tailor-made treatment for a range of diseases and conditions.
But many experts believe both types of research are needed.
There is no law against private stem cell research, which is moving ahead in states like California.
Another bill passed on the same day with overwhelming bi-partisan support as well as support from Bush, it will create a national registry for umbilical cord blood which will be used for research.
Please no spam, only serious posts. That means no children.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4576407.stm
US House backs stem cell funding
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41180000/jpg/_41180979_bushkids-getty203.jpg
Mr Bush met who were children adopted as frozen embryos
The US House of Representatives has voted to increase government funding for embryonic stem cell research.
The vote sets up a confrontation with President Bush, who has vowed to veto the bill if it passes the Senate.
The bill was passed by 238-194 votes - short of the two-thirds majority required to override Mr Bush's veto.
The vote followed an emotional debate between those who say the research is vital for medical progress, and those who say it destroys human life.
The bill would allow scientists to use stem cells from embryos created during in-vitro fertilisation programmes but never implanted in a womb.
Researchers believe stem cells - which can transform themselves into many other tissue types - hold the key to finding cures for many diseases, including Parkinson's and diabetes.
In 2001, Mr Bush declared that federal funding would be available only for research using existing stem cells - meaning that none have been harvested since.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Congressman Mike Castle and Democrat Diane De Gette, aims to overturn that ban.
During the debate, Republican Representative Charlie Bas spoke for the bill's supporters, urging Congress to consider the medical cures that might be discovered and the people that would benefit.
"For America to stand back because of a moral principle and not allow sound scientific research to proceed under the umbrella of the National Institute of Health, I think, is unconscionable," he said.
Broken ranks
Many Catholics and social conservatives in the US oppose the destruction of embryos.
Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay said the bill would mean taxpayers funding "the dismemberment of living, distinct human beings".
But a number of conservative Republicans, who usually back the pro-life lobby, broke with the party mainstream to support the bill.
Correspondents say that by threatening to use the veto for the first time in his presidency, Mr Bush has made it clear he will make a stand.
Before the debate, Mr Bush appeared alongside a group of children who were at one time embryos frozen in fertility clinics, before being adopted and implanted into a womb.
"This bill would take us across a critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the ongoing destruction of emerging human life," the president said.
"Crossing this line would be a great mistake."
A second bill which calls for extra funding for stem cell research using umbilical cord blood, and which has presidential backing, was passed by 431 votes to 1.
Scientists say these cells could provide tailor-made treatment for a range of diseases and conditions.
But many experts believe both types of research are needed.
There is no law against private stem cell research, which is moving ahead in states like California.